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RMA consents GIS for iwi, data sources, workflows, and case examples

Purpose​

This page supports iwi, hapū, trusts, and Māori environmental teams who review resource consents, provide feedback, and carry out GIS analysis to identify potential effects on taiao, wāhi of significance, and future risks. It assumes limited staff and time, so the focus is on repeatable, low admin workflows.

These RMA concepts appear frequently in consent assessments and council reporting. Keep them visible in templates and checklists.

A practical tool for improving how councils and iwi work together under the RMA.

RMA themes that map well to GIS checks​

Use a consistent set of themes so teams can triage consents quickly and record findings in a standard way.

Whenua and land disturbance​

Common consent triggers

  • earthworks
  • quarrying
  • vegetation clearance
  • contaminated land
  • landfills
  • subdivisions

GIS checks

  • slope and erosion susceptibility
  • proximity to sites and areas of significance to Māori
  • proximity to recorded archaeological sites, with cautions
  • catchment context and sediment pathways

Wai and freshwater​

Common consent triggers

  • water takes
  • discharges
  • stream works
  • culverts
  • stormwater systems
  • damming
  • gravel extraction

GIS checks

  • upstream and downstream values including marae and mahinga kai
  • wetlands, springs, and small tributaries missing from coarse mapping
  • cumulative effects within catchments

Useful references

Moana, estuaries, and coastal​

Common consent triggers

  • coastal structures
  • dredging
  • discharges
  • aquaculture
  • marinas
  • reclamation
  • erosion protection works

GIS checks

  • receiving environments and currents
  • wāhi tapu and wāhi tūpuna sensitivity zones
  • takutai moana rights context

Takutai moana overview
https://whakatau.govt.nz/te-tira-takutai-moana/resource-management-takutai-moana-rights

Air, noise, light, and amenity​

Common consent triggers

  • industrial sites
  • quarries
  • major transport projects
  • energy infrastructure

GIS checks

  • proximity to sensitive receptors such as marae, kura, kāinga
  • spatial exposure zones combined with non spatial data like wind

Cultural landscapes and sites of significance​

Common consent triggers

  • activities near known sites
  • activities within cultural landscapes

GIS checks

  • approved sites and areas of significance layers
  • travel corridors, viewshafts, and place relationships

Example dataset

Important caution
Not all iwi agree with council schedules. Treat council layers as one input only.

National and cross council sources​

Examples

If data is not published, request

  • weekly extract of applications
  • spatial locations
  • key fields and a data dictionary

Environmental monitoring and context layers​

Heritage and archaeology layers​

Minimum fields

  • council
  • consent number
  • applicant
  • activity type
  • status
  • date received
  • location confidence
  • catchment
  • receiving environment
  • iwi or hapū contact
  • sensitivity flag
  • priority
  • next action and due date

Step 2 Run a fast triage​

Checks

  • proximity to approved cultural layers
  • proximity to awa, wetlands, estuaries
  • proximity to marae and mahinga kai
  • clustering with similar consents

Outputs

  • triage note
  • shortlist for review
  • internal map snapshot

Step 3 Deeper analysis​

  • upstream and downstream effects mapping
  • cumulative effects analysis
  • hazard overlays where relevant
  • clear map based questions for councils

Step 4 Provide usable feedback​

Good feedback is

  • site specific
  • clear on information gaps
  • clear on mitigation expectations
  • clear on tikanga and engagement

Consultation guidance

A simple output set​

  • intake layer and dashboard
  • triage map template
  • catchment effects map
  • standard feedback note template